I'm not the kind of guy who gets all
giddy over driving on a race track. Truth be told: I'd much rather
spend the day off roading than taking laps at a track. Don't get me
wrong; zipping around a track is fun, but it's not my favorite thing.
Fortunately, in my line of nonwork, I occasionally get to off road as
well as clocking some track time.
My latest track experience was courtesy
of Lexus. Showing off its all-new RC to some media types a few weeks
ago, it chose the Monticello Motor Club in New York for the lion's
share of the day's driving. We did spend about two hours motoring RCs
to the track from the Ritz Carlton in West Plains where Lexus boarded
the press for the one night it hosted us. But, the bulk of the day
was spent at MMC.
MMC is a private race track where
well-heeled members pay exorbitant sums to belong and have access to
the track. These weekend track warriors are high-end sports-car
gentry of sorts. If I had that sort of dough to indulge myself, I'd
have a yacht crewed by babes in thong bikinis or a private jet with a
stripper pole, but that's just me. I suppose I should be glad there
are people happy to underwrite such an enterprise because it's then
available for paycheck-to-paycheck schlubs like me to use as a
carmaker's guest.
The meticulously maintained facility
itself is fairly spectacular. Located about 90 miles from NYC, it
consists of 4.1 miles of road-course track located on 175 wooded
acres. There are 22 turns and 450 feet of elevation changes. There is
a five-mile off-road course, as well as a 0.6-mile go-kart track.
Members enjoy a clubhouse with a bar, dining and lounge areas. There
are temperature-controlled garages and car storage. It's everything a
person, bored and needing more after two hours of playing “Need for
Speed Rivals” on Xbox, could possibly want.
Although they broke up the longest
straightaway for our visit – a prudent move indeed – we otherwise
used the track to its fullest capacity.
Over the years, some have bellyached
about the blandness of some Lexus and Toyota styling. Such a charge
won't be leveled at the RC. A two-door 2+2 coupe, RC is sleek and
chiseled. Available in two basic flavors – RC 350 and RC F – it
adds a sporty dimension to those on the market for an IS-sized sport
coupe.
As the $43,715 RC 350, it comes with
the familial 306-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 found in the IS 350 and GS
350. This is plenty of get-up-and-go for most drivers under most
conditions. Lexus uses an eight-speed driver-shiftable automatic
transmission to turn the rear wheels. This marriage is good for 22
mpg in combined driving. The base version of the new coupe relies on
comfort and luxury to win the hearts and minds of its owners. Sure it
handles well with uber-responsive steering, but it is aimed more at
drivers wanting to look the part of “boy racer” rather than
acting the part. There is an F-Sport version that butches things up a
bit with bigger wheels, sport suspension, rear-wheel steering and
more supportive seats.
RC F cockpit. |
Those wishing to straighten the
twisties and rip the paint off of the fences it passes will want to
pony up $63,325 for the RC F. This brute gets a 467-horsepower
5-liter V8 with the same eight-speed tranny. Hitting 60 from a
standstill requires 4.4seconds; yet, it still gets 19 mpg in combined
driving.You can even turn off the stability control for hair-on-fire
trips around the track.
Both RCs are packed full of high-tech
geegaws and over-the-top goodies.
I probably took a dozen laps of the
track, mostly in the RC-F. It is really a car engineered for driving
fast for people who haven't been trained to drive fast. It's pretty
damn forgiving.
For someone who can take or leave
driving on a race track, I was impressed with the RC-F's poise,
agility, speed and stability.
Hi, very usefull information, keep it continue. Lexus latest model year for 2016.
ReplyDelete2016 Lexus ES
2016 Lexus GS
2016 Lexus GX
2016 Lexus IS 250
2016 Lexus IS 250C
2016 Lexus IS 350
2016 Lexus IS 350C
2016 Lexus LS 460
2016 Lexus LX 570
2016 Lexus NX
2016 Lexus NX 200t
2016 Lexus NX 300h
2016 Lexus RC
2016 Lexus RC F
2016 Lexus RX 350
Source: www.gtopcars.com
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